I think the Sutter trade was outstanding. The guy is a solid third-liner that can score goals and put up points at a reasonable level. And I know fan sentiment isn't always the best barometer, but the vast majority of Canes fans seem to have been disgusted by this trade, and the opposite seems true for Pens fans.

(not to hijack the thread, the PK stuff just got me thinking about Sutter)

Adams happened to play with Staal (they definitely complemented each other well at first), who was a top PKer. Dupuis plays with Crosby, it doesn't mean he's a top-line winger. And now Adams has lost his Crosby, so to speak. Still a great shot-blocker, no doubt, because of his fearless attitude, but his 5-on-5 play at this point is borderline destitute, and I don't think his PK ability at this point negates that fact.

Jeffrey between Glass and Vitale is a much more complete 4th line, and DJ was an elite PKer in the AHL and is still in the upswing of his career.

I completely agree, and I wouldn't be surprised if he puts up numbers that come close to Staal's.

Staal on the Pens' stats, or Staal with the Canes' stats? Even if it's the former, 50 points in 62 games (I think?) is pretty darn solid, and we can only hope Sutter won't have the luxury of 2nd line minutes like Staal did. I'd definitely be surprised, but thankfully Sutter will make up for it with better even strength D.

I really think Bennett is making this team. There is are a ton of veterans on this team, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to throw a rookie out there. Especially considering the guys he would play with. Look at how well the Flyers rookies played last year. Let Bennett play and see what he can do.

farnham16 wrote:I really think Bennett is making this team. There is are a ton of veterans on this team, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to throw a rookie out there. Especially considering the guys he would play with. Look at how well the Flyers rookies played last year. Let Bennett play and see what he can do.

Bennett has probably earned the right to be the #1 callup when and if we need guys due to injury, but the 13 we have on NHL contracts should be the 13 forwards on the big club right now, while Bennett gets valuable minutes and experience in WB/S. He is off to a great start down there, but we need to be careful not to pile on too much too fast for the guy, especially considering he hasn't played a lot of hockey in the past few years because of injury. His time will come and he will get his cup of coffee this year, but he isn't quite ripe for full NHL duty yet.

A lot of decisions need to be made at forward in the offseason. Cooke, Dupuis and Adams are UFAs. Kennedy, Tangradi and Jeffrey are RFAs. Shero could go a lot of ways here but I doubt he keeps everyone. Bennett will have his spot carved out for him then to be on the big club full time.

P.S. After writing this post, the flexibility we have at forward with young guys like Bennett, Jeffrey and Tangradi, coupled with the glut of defensive talent on the way, makes me really optimistic for the future. Shero's cupboard is full of enough pieces to make this team a contender for at least the next 5 years.

columbia wrote:Unlike Staal, Kennedy is the kind of player you keep around until the summer.If a deal can be made, ok; if not, you say aloha and keep on keeping on.

Having said that, he won't be dropping off the depth chart (this year).

Yeah, agreed. Unless Tangradi/Bennett exceed expectations in a big way. I'm just looking ahead to the summer when all these guys come up for new contracts, and I don't really see a place for Kennedy. Either Dupuis drops down and supplants him, or Jeffrey moves up into his spot. Jeffrey (if he pans out) will be a cheaper, more versatile, "grittier", better defensive 3rd liner.

farnham16 wrote:I really think Bennett is making this team. There is are a ton of veterans on this team, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to throw a rookie out there. Especially considering the guys he would play with. Look at how well the Flyers rookies played last year. Let Bennett play and see what he can do.

I don't think he will, and it's because of the veterans on the team. Of the forwards at camp, Bennett and Megna are the only ones that are waiver exempt. After losing Nick Johnson on waivers after last year's camp, I can't see Shero taking that risk again by putting Tangradi or Jeffrey on the waiver wire.